Terminal and method for setting menu environments in the terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for setting a menu environment in a mobile terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a controller for switching to an environment setting mode of a menu according to a type of a gesture having occurred on the menu.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed on Jun. 19, 2012 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0065402, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a terminal and a method for settingmenu environments in the terminal. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a terminal and a menu environment setting methodfor allowing a user to conveniently switch to environment setting modesof menus in the terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of menus for running their related functions are displayed ona screen of a terminal. If one of the menus displayed on the screen isselected or touched by a user, its associated function is carried out.

However, in order to change environments of the menus, the user needs toswitch to environment setting modes of the menus through a number ofsteps. For example, a quick panel of Android® Operating System(OS)-based smart phones may display menus such as Wireless Fidelity(Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Global Positioning System (GPS), Call Notification,and Auto-Rotation. If a touch occurs on an arbitrary menu among themenus displayed on the quick panel, a function related to the touchedmenu is activated or enabled, and if a touch occurs again on thearbitrary menu, the activated function is deactivated or disabled in atoggle manner.

As described above, the user may activate or deactivate functions of themenus displayed on the quick panel by touching the menus. However, theuser needs to go through several steps in order to switch to environmentsetting modes of the menus. For example, the user must select a mainmenu on a home screen, select an environment setting menu in the mainmenu, and then select an environment setting mode for one of displayedmenus. As another example, the user needs to enter an option button onthe home screen, select an environment setting menu in a displayedoption menu, and then select an environment setting mode for one ofdisplayed menus.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a terminal and a menu environment setting methodfor quickly and intuitively switching to an environment setting mode ofa menu in the terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a menu environmentsetting apparatus and method for handily viewing currently setenvironment information on a menu, in a terminal.

Another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is toprovide a terminal and a menu environment setting method for allowing auser to conveniently view environment information currently set on amenu, in the terminal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is providedwhich includes a controller for, if a first gesture occurs on a specificmenu, directly switching to an environment setting mode of specificmenu, in which an environment for a function of the specific menu may beset.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a terminal, which includes a controller for setting activationor inactivation for a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) function if a shorttouch occurs on a Wi-Fi menu among a plurality of menus in a quick panelincluding the plurality of menus, and directly switching to anenvironment setting mode of the Wi-Fi menu if a double touch occurs onthe Wi-Fi menu.

In accordance with further another aspect of the present invention,there is provided a terminal, which includes a controller for setting atype of a call notification menu if a short touch occurs on the callnotification menu among a plurality of menus in a quick panel includingthe plurality of menus, and directly switching to an environment settingmode of the call notification menu if a double touch occurs on the callnotification menu.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for setting a menu environment in a terminal. Themethod includes, if a gesture occurs on a specific menu, determining atype of the gesture which has occurred on the specific menu; and if afirst gesture occurs on the specific menu, directly switching to anenvironment setting mode of the specific menu, in which an environmentfor a function of the specific menu may be set.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method for setting a menu environment in a terminal. Themethod includes displaying a plurality of menus on a quick panel; if ashort touch occurs on a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) menu among theplurality of menus, setting activation or inactivation for a Wi-Fifunction; and if a double touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu, directlyswitching to an environment setting mode of the Wi-Fi menu.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method for setting a menu environment in a terminal. Themethod includes displaying a plurality of menus on a quick panel; if ashort touch occurs on a call notification menu among the plurality ofmenus, setting a type of the call notification menu; and if a doubletouch occurs on the call notification menu, directly switching to anenvironment setting mode of the call notification menu.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a menuaccording to a type of a gesture in a terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) menu according to a type of a gesture in a terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a callnotification menu according to a type of a gesture in a terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate display screens provided for a description ofthe processes shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding, but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purposes only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similarcomponents may be designated by the same or similar reference numeralsalthough they are illustrated in different drawings.

A terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionincludes a portable terminal and a fixed terminal. The portable terminalmay be a mobile electronic device, such as a videophone, a portablephone, a smart phone, an International Mobile Telecommunication 2000(IMT-2000) terminal, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)terminal, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS) terminal,a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP),a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) terminal, an Electronic-Book(E-Book) reader, a portable computer (e.g., a laptop Personal Computer(PC) or a tablet PC), and a digital camera. The fixed terminal may be adesktop PC.

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a Radio Frequency (RF) unit 123 is responsible forradio communication of the terminal. The RF unit 123 includes an RFtransmitter for frequency up-converting transmission signals andamplifying the up-converted signals, and an RF receiver forlow-noise-amplifying received signals and frequency down-converting theamplified signals. A data processor 120 includes a transmitter forencoding and modulating the transmission signals, and a receiver fordemodulating and decoding the received signals. In other words, the dataprocessor 120 may include modem and a codec. The codec includes a datacodec for processing packet data, and an audio codec for processingaudio signals such as voice. An audio processor 125 plays received audiosignals output from the audio codec in the data processor 120 using aspeaker, and transfers transmission audio signals picked up by amicrophone to the audio codec in the data processor 120.

A key input unit 127 includes numeric/character keys for inputtingnumeric and character information and function keys for setting variousfunctions.

A memory 130 may include a program memory and a data memory. The programmemory may store programs for controlling the general operation of theterminal. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment to the presentinvention, the memory 130 may store a control program for switching toan environment setting mode of a menu according to a type of a gesture.The data memory may temporarily store the data generated duringexecution of these programs.

The controller 110 controls the overall operation of the terminal. Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thecontroller 110 switches to an environment setting mode of a menuaccording to a type of a gesture having occurred on the menu. Thecontroller 110 runs a related function of the menu or displays currentlyset environment information on the menu, according to the type of thegesture having occurred on the menu.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the menuin a pop-up window, the controller 110 runs the related function of themenu or switches to the environment setting mode of the menu, accordingto the type of the gesture having occurred on the menu. While displayingthe currently set environment information on the menu in a pop-upwindow, the controller 110 switches to the environment setting mode ofthe menu according to the type of the gesture having occurred in thepop-up window. The type of the gesture may include a short touch, a longtouch, a double touch, a multi-touch, a drag, and a pressure-sensitivetouch.

The controller 110 determines the type of the gesture having occurred onthe menu, and may run the related function of the menu if the type ofthe gesture is a short touch, switch to the environment setting mode ofthe menu if the type of the gesture is a long touch, and display thecurrently set environment information on the menu if the type of thegesture is a double touch.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the menuin the pop-up window, the controller 110 may run the related function ofthe menu if a short touch occurs on the menu. While displaying thecurrently set environment information on the menu in the pop-up window,the controller 110 may switch to the environment setting mode of themenu if a long touch occurs on the menu. While displaying the currentlyset environment information on the menu in the pop-up window, thecontroller 110 may switch to the environment setting mode of the menu ifa short touch occurs in the pop-up window. The controller 110 maydisplay the menu in a different color or shape according to the type ofthe gesture having occurred on the menu.

A camera 140 includes a camera sensor for capturing images andconverting the captured optical image signal into an electrical signal,and a signal processor for converting the analog image signal capturedby the camera sensor into digital data. The camera sensor may be aCharge-Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor(CMOS) sensor, and the signal processor may be implemented with aDigital Signal Processor (DSP). The camera sensor and the signalprocessor may be implemented either in an integrated way, or in aseparated way.

An image processor 150 performs Image Signal Processing (ISP) fordisplaying the image signals output from the camera 140 on a display160. The ISP may include gamma correction, interpolation, spatialvariations, image effects, image scaling, Automatic White Balance (AWB),Automatic Exposure (AE), and Automatic Focus (AF). The image processor150 processes the image signals output from the camera 140 on aframe-by-frame basis, and outputs the frame image data according to thecharacteristics and size of the display 160. The image processor 150includes a video codec, which compresses the frame image data displayedon the display 160 by a preset coding scheme, and decompresses thecompressed frame image data into the original frame image data. Thevideo codec may include a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) codec,a Moving Picture Experts Group 4 (MPEG4) codec, and a Wavelet codec. Theimage processor 150 may have an On-Screen Display (OSD) function, andmay output OSD data according to the size of the displayed screen, undercontrol of the controller 110.

The display 160 displays, on its screen, image signals output from theimage processor 150 and user data output from the controller 110. Thedisplay 160 may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). In this case,the display 160 may include an LCD controller, a memory capable ofstoring image data, and an LCD panel. When implemented as a touchscreen, the LCD may serve as an input unit. In this case, the same keysas those on the key input unit 127 may be displayed on the display 160.

The display 160 may display the menu in a different color or shapeaccording to the type of the gesture having occurred on the menu. Anoperation of controlling a menu in the above-described terminal isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5E.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a menuaccording to a type of a gesture in a terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The process illustrated in FIG. 2will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 110 determines in step 201 whether agesture occurs on a specific menu among menus displayed on the terminal,and determines a type of the gesture having occurred on the specificmenu in step 202, if a gesture occurs on the specific menu.

The controller 110 determines in step 203 whether the gesture havingoccurred on the specific menu is a first gesture, and runs a relatedfunction of the specific menu in step 204, if the gesture havingoccurred on the specific menu is the first gesture.

The controller 110 determines in step 205 whether the gesture havingoccurred on the specific menu is a second gesture, and directly switchesto an environment menu setting mode of the specific menu in step 206, ifthe gesture having occurred on the specific menu is the second gesture.

The controller 110 determines in step 207 whether the gesture havingoccurred on the specific menu is a third gesture, and displays currentlyset environment information on the specific menu in step 208, if thegesture having occurred on the specific menu is the third gesture.

In step 208, the controller 110 may display the currently setenvironment information on the specific menu in a pop-up window near thespecific menu.

While displaying the currently set environment information on thespecific menu in the pop-up window, the controller 110 determines instep 209 whether the first gesture occurs on the specific menu, and runsthe related function of the specific menu in step 210 if the firstgesture occurs on the specific menu.

While displaying the currently set environment information on thespecific menu in the pop-up window, the controller 110 determines instep 211 whether the second gesture occurs on the specific menu, anddirectly switches to the environment menu setting mode of the specificmenu in step 212 if the second gesture occurs on the specific menu.

While displaying the currently set environment information on thespecific menu in the pop-up window, the controller 110 determines instep 213 whether the first gesture occurs in the pop-up window, anddirectly switches to the environment menu setting mode of the specificmenu in step 212 if the first gesture occurs in the pop-up window.

Although it is assumed in the above processes that the first gesture isto execute the function of a menu, the second gesture is to switch to anenvironment setting mode of the menu, and the third gesture is todisplay the environment information set for the menu, it is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention thereto. Therefore, it can beunderstood that executing the function of a menu, switching to anenvironment setting mode of the menu, or displaying the environmentinformation set for the menu may be performed in response to any one ofthe first to third gestures. The first to third gestures may be any oneof a short touch, a long touch, a double touch, a multi-touch, a drag,and a pressure-sensitive touch, and may also include a type of a motionof the terminal (e.g, motion to the left or right, side to side motion,up/down motion, etc.).

Accordingly, the corresponding function may be performed by the secondor third gesture, the switching to an environment setting mode of themenu may be performed by the first or third gesture, and the display ofthe environment information set for the menu may be performed by thefirst or second gesture.

For example, after the user selects a specific menu, the controller 110may run a related function of the specific menu, switch to anenvironment setting mode of the specific menu, or display currently setenvironment information on the specific menu, according to the motiondirection of a terminal. The types of gestures for controlling thespecific menu may be set by the user.

An operation of controlling a menu according to a type of gesture in aterminal is described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5E.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a Wi-Fi menuaccording to a type of a gesture in a terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustratinga process of controlling a call notification menu according to a type ofa gesture in a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate display screens providedfor a description of the processes shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5A-5E, the menus may be controlledaccording to various different types of touches: a short touchindicating an action in which a touch occurs within a predeterminedtime, a long touch indicating an action in which a touch lasts for apredetermined time or more, and a double touch indicating an action inwhich two successive touches occur within a predetermined time.

The processes shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described in detail belowwith reference to FIGS. 1, and 5A to 5E.

An operation of controlling a Wi-Fi menu 501 displayed on a quick panel510 is described with reference to FIG. 3. If a top-to-bottom dragoccurs starting from an upper part of a screen of the display 160 in astandby mode, the controllers 110 displays the quick panel 510 havingpreset menus as illustrated in FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 110 determines in step 301 whether atouch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu 501 on the quick panel 510, anddetermines a type of the touch having occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 instep 302 if the touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu 501.

The controller 110 determines in step 303 whether the type of the touchhaving occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 is a short touch. If the type ofthe touch having occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 is the short touch, thenin step 304 the controller 110 activates a Wi-Fi function if the Wi-Fifunction is presently inactive and deactivates the Wi-Fi function if theWi-Fi function is presently active.

The controller 110 determines in step 305 whether the type of the touchhaving occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 is a long touch, and directlyswitches to a Wi-Fi environment setting mode, as illustrated in FIG. 5B,in which the Wi-Fi environment may be set, in step 306 if the type ofthe touch having occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 is the long touch.

The controller 110 determines in step 307 whether the type of the touchhaving occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 is a double touch, and displayscurrently set environment information on the Wi-Fi menu 501 in step 308if the type of the touch having occurred on the Wi-Fi menu 501 is thedouble touch.

In step 308, the controller 110 may display the currently setenvironment information on the Wi-Fi menu 501 in a pop-up window nearthe Wi-Fi menu 501.

The controller 110 may display the currently set environment informationon the Wi-Fi menu 501 if the Wi-Fi menu 501 is presently active, andannounce deactivation of the Wi-Fi function or display environmentinformation previously set on the Wi-Fi menu 501 if the Wi-Fi menu 501is presently inactive. The controller 110 may display, in the pop-upwindow, a type of a router currently or previously connected to theterminal and signal strength of the router as the environmentinformation set on the Wi-Fi menu 501. In FIG. 5C, the controller 110displays a type “Iptime™” of a router currently connected to theterminal and a signal strength of the router as the environmentinformation set on the Wi-Fi menu 501 in a pop-up window 501 a near theWi-Fi menu 501, if the Wi-Fi menu 501 is presently active.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the Wi-Fimenu 501 in the pop-up window 501 a, the controller 110 determines instep 309 whether the short touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu 501, andactivates or deactivates the Wi-Fi menu 501 in step 310 if the shorttouch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu 501.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the Wi-Fimenu 501 in the pop-up window 501 a, the controller 110 determines instep 311 whether the long touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu 501, anddirectly switches to an environment setting mode of the Wi-Fi menu 501(as illustrated in FIG. 5B) is step 312 if the long touch occurs on theWi-Fi menu 501.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the Wi-Fimenu 501 in the pop-up window 501 a, the controller 110 determines instep 313 whether the double touch occurs in the pop-up window 501 a, anddirectly switches to the environment setting mode of the Wi-Fi menu 501(as illustrated in FIG. 5B) in step 312 if the double touch occurs inthe pop-up window.

An operation of controlling a call notification menu displayed on thequick panel 510 is described below with reference to FIG. 4. If atop-to-bottom drag occurs starting from an upper part of a screen of thedisplay 160 in a standby mode, the controller 110 displays the quickpanel 510 having preset menus as illustrated in FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 110 determines in step 401 whether atouch occurs on a call notification menu 502 on the quick panel 510, anddetermines a type of the touch having occurred on the call notificationmenu 502 in step 402 if the touch occurs on the call notification menu502 on the quick panel 510.

The controller 110 determines in step 403 whether the type of the touchhaving occurred on the call notification menu 502 is a short touch, andchanges a type of the call notification menu 502 in step 404 if the typeof the touch having occurred on the call notification menu 502 is theshort touch. For example, in step 404, the controller 110 switches to abell mode if the type of the call notification menu 502 is currently setas a vibration mode, and switches to the vibration mode if the type ofthe call notification menu 502 is currently set as the bell mode.

The controller 110 determines in step 405 whether the type of the touchhaving occurred on the call notification menu 502 is a long touch, anddirectly switches to a call notification environment setting mode inwhich a call notification environment may be set (as illustrated in FIG.5D), in step 406 if the type of the touch having occurred on the callnotification menu 502 is the long touch.

The controller 110 determines in step 407 whether the type of the touchhaving occurred on the call notification menu 502 is a double touch, anddisplays currently set environment information on the call notificationmenu 502 in step 408 if the type of the touch having occurred on thecall notification menu 502 is the double touch.

In step 408, the controller 110 may display the currently setenvironment information on the call notification menu 502 in a pop-upwindow near the call notification menu 502. For example, the controller110 may display a detailed vibration setting (e.g., “vibration always”)and vibration strength information as the currently set environmentinformation on the call notification menu 502 if the type of the callnotification menu 502 is a vibration mode, or bell type and bell volumeinformation as the currently set environment information on the callnotification menu 502 if the type of the call notification menu 502 is abell mode. In FIG. 5E, the controller 110 displays bell type (“Ring1”)and bell volume information as the currently set environment informationon the call notification menu 502 in a pop-up window 502 a near the callnotification menu 502 if the type of the call notification menu 502 isthe bell mode.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the callnotification menu 502 in the pop-up window 502 a, the controller 110determines in step 409 whether the short touch occurs on the callnotification menu 502, and switches a type of the call notification menu502 to a bell mode or a vibration mode in step 410 if the short touchoccurs on the call notification menu 502.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the callnotification menu 502 in the pop-up window 502 a, the controller 110determines in step 411 whether the long touch occurs on the callnotification menu 502, and directly switches to the environment settingmode of the call notification menu 502 (as illustrated in FIG. 5D) instep 412 if the long touch occurs on the call notification menu 502.

While displaying the currently set environment information on the callnotification menu 502 in the pop-up window 502 a, the controller 110determines in step 413 whether the double touch occurs in the pop-upwindow 502 a, and directly switches to the environment setting mode ofthe call notification menu 502 (as illustrated in FIG. 5D) in step 412if the double touch occurs in the pop-up window 502 a.

In FIGS. 3 to 4, operations of running a related function of a menu,quickly switching to an environment setting mode of the menu, anddisplaying environment information of the menu, according to a type of agesture having occurred on the menu on a quick panel, are described.These operations may be equally performed through an icon indicating anapplication of the terminal, not only the menu on the quick panel.

While displaying a plurality of icons indicating their relatedapplications, the controller 110 determines a type of a gesture havingoccurred on an arbitrary icon. The controller 110 switches to anapplication mode corresponding to the arbitrary icon if the type of thegesture having occurred on the arbitrary icon is the first gesture. Thecontroller 110 quickly switches to an environment setting mode of anapplication mode corresponding to the arbitrary icon if the type of thegesture having occurred on the arbitrary icon is the second gesture.

The controller 110 may display currently set environment information onthe application corresponding to the arbitrary icon in a pop-up windownear the arbitrary icon if the type of the gesture having occurred onthe arbitrary icon is the third gesture.

While displaying the pop-up window near the arbitrary icon, thecontroller 110 switches to the application mode corresponding to thearbitrary icon if the first gesture occurs on the arbitrary icon, orswitches to the environment setting mode of the applicationcorresponding to the arbitrary icon if the second gesture occurs on thearbitrary icon, or switches to the environment setting mode of theapplication corresponding to the arbitrary icon if the third gestureoccurs on the arbitrary icon.

For example, while displaying a plurality of icons indicating theirrelated applications, the controller 110 may switch to a message mode ifthe first gesture occurs on an icon indicating a message application(message application icon), or switch to an environment setting mode ofthe message mode if the second gesture occurs on the message applicationicon, or display currently set environment information on the messageapplication in a pop-up window near the message application icon if thethird gesture occurs on the message application icon.

While displaying the pop-up window near the message application icon,the controller 110 switches to the message mode if the first gestureoccurs on the message application icon, or switches to the environmentsetting mode of the message mode if the second gesture occurs on themessage application icon, or switches to the environment setting mode ofthe message mode if the third gesture occurs in the pop-up window.

An apparatus and method for setting a menu environment in a terminal,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, may beimplemented by computer-readable codes stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recordingmedium may include all types of recording devices in which data readableby the computer system is stored. Examples of the recording medium mayinclude a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random-Access Memory (RAM), anoptical disk, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, a hard disk, and anon-volatile memory.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention may allow the user to conveniently switch to anenvironment setting mode of a menu, and to easily view currently setenvironment information on the menu by providing a shortened path forsetting a menu environment.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A terminal comprising: a controller for, if afirst gesture occurs on a specific menu, directly switching to anenvironment setting mode of the specific menu, in which an environmentfor a function of the specific menu may be set.
 2. The terminal of claim1, wherein if a second gesture occurs on the specific menu, thecontroller performs the function of the specific menu.
 3. The terminalof claim 1, wherein if a third gesture occurs on the specific menu, thecontroller controls to display environment information which is set onthe specific menu.
 4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein if a secondgesture occurs on the specific menu while displaying the environmentinformation set on the specific menu in a pop-up window, the controllerperforms the function of the specific menu, and if the first gestureoccurs on the specific menu or if the second gesture occurs in thepop-up window, the controller directly switches to the environmentsetting mode of the specific menu.
 5. A terminal comprising: acontroller for setting activation or inactivation for a WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) function if a short touch occurs on a Wi-Fi menu amonga plurality of menus in a quick panel including the plurality of menus,and directly switching to an environment setting mode of the Wi-Fi menuif a double touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu.
 6. The terminal of claim 5,wherein if a long touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu, the controllercontrols to display environment information set on the Wi-Fi menu. 7.The terminal of claim 5, wherein if a long touch occurs on the Wi-Fimenu, the controller controls to display a pop-up window indicating theenvironment information set on the Wi-Fi menu, in the vicinity of theWi-Fi menu, and controls to display at least one of a type and a signalstrength of a router in the pop-up window as the environment informationset on the Wi-Fi menu.
 8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein if a shorttouch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu while displaying the environmentinformation set on the Wi-Fi menu in a pop-up window, the controllersets activation or inactivation for the Wi-Fi function, and if a doubletouch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu or if a short touch occurs in the pop-upwindow, the controller directly switches to an environment setting modeof the Wi-Fi menu.
 9. A terminal comprising: a controller for setting atype of a call notification menu if a short touch occurs on the callnotification menu among a plurality of menus in a quick panel includingthe plurality of menus, and directly switching to an environment settingmode of the call notification menu if a double touch occurs on the callnotification menu.
 10. The terminal of claim 9, wherein if a long touchoccurs on the call notification menu, the controller controls to displayenvironment information set on the call notification menu.
 11. Theterminal of claim 9, wherein if a long touch occurs on the callnotification menu, the controller controls to display a pop-up windowindicating environment information set on the call notification menu, inthe vicinity of the call notification menu, and controls to display, inthe pop-up window, at least one of a type of the call notification menuand details of the call notification menu as environment information seton the call notification menu.
 12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein ifa short touch occurs on the call notification menu while displayingenvironment information set on the call notification menu in the pop-upwindow, the controller sets a type of the call notification menu, and ifa double touch occurs on the call notification menu or if a short touchoccurs in the pop-up window, the controller directly switches to anenvironment setting mode of the call notification menu.
 13. A method forsetting a menu environment in a terminal, the method comprising: if agesture occurs on a specific menu, determining a type of the gesturewhich has occurred on the specific menu; and if a first gesture occurson the specific menu, directly switching to an environment setting modeof the specific menu, in which an environment for a function of thespecific menu may be set.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: if a second gesture occurs on the specific menu, performingthe function of the specific menu.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: if a third gesture occurs on the specific menu, displayingenvironment information which is set on the specific menu.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: if a third gesture occurs on thespecific menu, displaying the environment information set on thespecific menu in a pop-up window; if a second gesture occurs on thespecific menu while displaying the environment information set on thespecific menu in the pop-up window, performing the function of thespecific menu, and if the first gesture occurs on the specific menu orif the second gesture occurs in the pop-up window, directly switching tothe environment setting mode of the specific menu.
 17. A method forsetting a menu environment in a terminal, the method comprising:displaying a plurality of menus on a quick panel; if a short touchoccurs on a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) menu among the plurality of menus,setting activation or inactivation for a Wi-Fi function; and if a doubletouch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu, directly switching to an environmentsetting mode of the Wi-Fi menu.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: if a long touch occurs on the Wi-Fi menu among the pluralityof menus, displaying environment information set on the Wi-Fi menu. 19.The method of claim 17, further comprising: if a long touch occurs onthe Wi-Fi menu, displaying a pop-up window indicating the environmentinformation set on the Wi-Fi menu, in the vicinity of the Wi-Fi menu;and displaying at least one of a type and a signal strength of a routerin the pop-up window as the environment information set on the Wi-Fimenu.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: if a short touchoccurs on the Wi-Fi menu while displaying the environment informationset on the Wi-Fi menu in the pop-up window, setting activation orinactivation for the Wi-Fi function; and if a long touch occurs on theWi-Fi menu or if a short touch occurs in the pop-up window, directlyswitching to an environment setting mode of the Wi-Fi menu.
 21. A methodfor setting a menu environment in a terminal, the method comprising:displaying a plurality of menus on a quick panel; if a short touchoccurs on a call notification menu among the plurality of menus, settinga type of the call notification menu; and if a double touch occurs onthe call notification menu, directly switching to an environment settingmode of the call notification menu.
 22. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: if a long touch occurs on the call notification menu,displaying environment information set on the call notification menu.23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: if a long touch occurson the call notification menu, displaying a pop-up window indicatingenvironment information set on the call notification menu, in thevicinity of the call notification menu; and displaying, in the pop-upwindow, at least one of a type of the call notification menu and detailsof the call notification menu as environment information set on the callnotification menu.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: if ashort touch occurs on the call notification menu while displayingenvironment information set on the call notification menu in the pop-upwindow, setting a type of the call notification menu; and if a doubletouch occurs on the call notification menu or if a short touch occurs inthe pop-up window, directly switching to an environment setting mode <ofthe call notification menu.